Newly agreed rents across Britain hit two-year high

Key facts

• Average newly agreed rents across Britain rose 2.7% year-on-year to £1,433 in September.
• Rental growth on new lets accelerated for the 10th consecutive month.
• The South East and South West of England saw rental growth exceed 4.0%.

Newly agreed rental prices for fresh tenancies in Britain have risen at the fastest pace in nearly two years, according to a report by property firm Hamptons. The annual pace of rental growth on new lets accelerated for the 10th month in a row in September. Average newly agreed rents across Britain increased by 2.7% annually to £1,433 per month, up from £1,396 in September last year. The South East and South West of England recorded annual growth above 4.0% for the first time since September 2024. Where an existing tenant’s rent increased, the average rise remained at 5.6%, unchanged from August. Aneisha Beveridge, head of research at Hamptons, noted that higher rents have so far mainly affected tenants moving home, but warned this could feed through to existing tenants if growth continues to pick up.